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Gear.Club Unlimited is Switch's Gran Turismo
The team behind V-Rally and Test Drive Unlimited are bringing their realistic driving simulation to Switch – get an exclusive first look at splitscreen multiplayer here.
Even the most mean-spirited Nintendo critic would have to admit that the Switch has had a phenomenal first year, not just in terms of sales but also in quality of software. We've had titles like Zelda: Breath of the Wild, ARMS, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle and a flood of stunning indie hits, leaving Switch owners with no shortage of compelling games to sample. However, one genre the console has been curiously lacking in is serious, real-world racers. Sure, we've had the brilliant FAST RMX and the madcap Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but Nintendo's console doesn't have anything to challenge the likes of Forza or Gran Turismo – although that could be about to change.
French studio Eden Games are bringing their Gear.Club series to the Switch and it's likely to be the closest thing Nintendo fans will have to Sony and Microsoft's million-selling franchises for the foreseeable future. Gear.Club began life as a free-to-play smartphone title, but before you dismiss it entirely, it's worth noting that this developer's history stretches back over 20 years, during which they've been responsible for seminal racing titles such as V-Rally, Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed and Test Drive Unlimited 2, as well as the 2008 reboot of the Alone in the Dark series.
"Many of our in-house tools and proprietary engines have been developed over the last 20 years," explains Pascal Clarysse, Eden Games' CMO-at-large. "Systems and technology constantly evolve but some things never change, like for example, the laws of physics. The sophistication of our aids and assistances for beginners is also something we have honed over more than a decade. Let’s not forget Eden Games have specialised in the racing genre since the very beginning, and that helps carry our expertise over generations of titles."
Eden Games isn't some wet-behind-the-ears newbie, then; they are a company who not only have decades of development experience over a wide range of platforms but also have racing in their DNA. With that issue covered, Clarysse moves to calm those doubters who are concerned about Gear.Club's smartphone origins.
The game will be premium, which means you get the full experience after purchase – no micro-transactions
"First and foremost, there is a major economic difference: the game will be premium, which means you get the full experience after purchase – no micro-transactions," he says. “We also capitalise on the machine’s power to deliver higher definition of graphics and visual effects. Then, from a gameplay perspective, you'll be able to enjoy local multiplayer, playing in splitscreen between up to four friends – or foes! – at once, using the Joy-Con controllers.”
Get an exclusive world-first look at how that will work in the image below:
You can play four-player local splitscreen
© Eden Games
So far, so good. But as any dedicated racing fan will tell you, this kind of simulation lives or dies by its authenticity; beautiful visuals and impressive physics engines will only get you so far with truly hardcore petrolheads. Luckily, Clarysse is confident Gear.Club Unlimited will find favour with this most challenging of audiences. "We work very closely with all manufacturers to make sure we replicate their models accurately," he comments. "And as you can expect, they are demanding about accuracy. In fact, there are some car manufacturers with whom we have forged relationships over many years and multiple titles, always getting one level deeper into the tiny details that make a difference."
Gear.Club Unlimited promises 200 unique tracks across three totally distinct environments – the sunny Mediterranean, arid desert and lush greenlands –- but it won't just be a faithful and involving experience on the track; the developers are working overtime to ensure that there's plenty of tinkering on-offer when you're in the garage, too.
"Gear.Club Unlimited is much more than a quick race, it’s a true car world," Clarysse attests. "Tuning and customising are an integral part of the game. You manage your own performance shop and you can go absolutely nuts in there. There's a flurry of workshops, you can hire employees, upgrade car parts, paint your cars – and all this in glorious 3D! Everything is visual and responsive, no boring text menus."
As for the Switch, Clarysse is full of admiration for Nintendo's hybrid wonder. "We are huge Nintendo fans since childhood and we believe this is a classic Nintendo system right out of the gate: thought out by game developers with gameplay at heart. It’s a very ingenious and versatile system and we enjoy it as gamers quite a bit. Splatoon 2, Puyo Puyo Fever and Mario Kart naturally, are the office’s favorites."
He's also confident that, despite the impressive visuals, his team will be able to keep things running smoothly. "We're aiming for 1080p in docked mode, 720p in handheld," he says. "We guarantee minimum 30 fps across the board." One aspect of the hardware that Eden Games couldn't do anything about is the lack of analogue triggers – which many Forza and Gran Turismo fans will tell you are utterly essential. However, Clarysse reveals that a solution has been found. "We are simulating analogue on the digital triggers by converting pressures through a software gauge that is progressive." Clarysse also reveals that DLC forms part of Eden Games' plans and more details will be issued at a later date.
On paper at least, things are definitely looking up for this promising racer; it has the visual muscle to impress, and from what we've heard, the experience is shaping up to be both authentic and compelling enough to entertain even the most demanding of racing fans. But can Gear.Club Unlimited really compare favourably to the likes of Gran Turismo and Forza, two franchises which are supported by millions of dollars of development time and have thousands of staff working on them away year-in, year-out?
"We love these series; they are obviously the best in class and our role models," admits Clarysse. "We play these games at lunch almost every day, if we're being honest. We must be humble and acknowledge that we are not owned by console manufacturers and therefore don’t play with the same resources. But we are definitely doing our best to fill the void on Nintendo’s platform and deliver a realistic driving experience that makes Switch owners genuinely happy. Our care for the little details that make a difference and that enhance the depth of our immersive universe. After 20 years of making car games, it’s not just experience at work, it’s also passion. We love cars so much that it transpires through our work."
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